Aussie alliance boosts Masterton park

Campers Keesharn Hemopai, 7 , left, Tiara Hemopai, 10, and Finesse Cribb-Kapea, 11, act out the newly added logo for Family Parks -- an alliance of Australian and NZ camping grounds. PHOTO/GERALD FORD

Mawley Park in Masterton has joined an alliance of Australian accommodation parks that are expanding into New Zealand.

Managers Jelena and Rodney Algie have signed the camping ground up to Family Parks.

Based mainly in Australia, Family Parks covers more than 120 businesses around Australia and New Zealand.

Mawley Park is the newest of 10 Kiwi additions to the alliance's 2016 directory.

"It gives us exposure to another market and a reason [for people] to come," Mrs Algie said.

"It gives us discounts we wouldn't be able to get."

Mrs Algie said she had met the people behind Family Parks at conferences, and had stayed at one of the sites on a visit to Australia.

Campers at Family Parks sites can obtain loyalty cards that are transferable between sites, and can be rewarded with discounts and concessions.

More than 75 per cent of Family Parks are pet-friendly, a step Mawley Park has also taken since the Algies' tenure.

Mr Algie said last week that the camping ground had benefited from positive online reviews, contributing to a packed-out Christmas and New Year season where some caravans had to be turned away.

"I think we're starting to see some good results from our procedures and what we have on offer because people today tend to be booking more by review," said Mr Algie.